In brief
Gunfire erupted at the Bite of Seattle festival near the Space Needle on Sunday, leaving three dead and several injured. Police say two suspects shot at each other, with one still at large. The incident sparked chaos as attendees rushed for safety. Officials have expressed condolences and the flag was lowered to half‑mast in honour of the victims.
Alarms rang out at about 18:00 local time as a lone gunman opened fire during the three‑day Bite of Seattle food festival near the Space Needle, killing three people and leaving several others wounded while the crowd scrambled for cover.
Police identified two suspects who were involved in a shoot‑out, with one now in custody and the other still at large. Authorities say the incident does not pose an ongoing public threat.
Faith Adia Hunter, who was near the shooter when the gunfire started, said, ‘We were right next to him when it started so we took off running – into the building with the crowd.’
The victims were a 19‑year‑old man, a 44‑year‑old man and a 56‑year‑old woman. Four injured people have been hospitalised, while another declined treatment.
Mayor Katie Wilson expressed gratitude for the swift response of police officers and noted that the event, which normally attracts roughly 350,000 visitors each year, was abruptly halted by this tragedy.
The flag was lowered to half‑mast in honour of the victims, and Washington state officials condemned the shooting as “senseless violence” while urging continued community safety measures as investigations proceed.
